by Rachel Jonas
But I’d been paying attention.
Most of what I read was unofficial, pieces written on a local blog: “Behind the Falls”. While I couldn’t vouch for its credibility one-hundred-percent, the information the author, ChadTheUncensoredOne, and others online reported was almost identical from one site’s findings to the next.
What are the odds of that? They couldn’t all be wrong.
The general consensus: strange things were happening on a growing scale and, collectively, it all had to mean something.
“The everglades I can live without. I’m just glad it didn’t swallow Disney. Now that would have been a tragedy,” Kyle said with a laugh. “Too soon, I guess…” he mumbled to himself when none of us joined him.
“Am I the only one starting to see a pattern?” My question made Richie turn toward me. At first, I thought he might agree, but then his expression lightened and he did exactly what I expected him to—downplayed the issue despite it having precedence. Why? Because he seemed to think that, as my big brother, that was his job.
Somehow forgetting the fact that I wasn’t a kid anymore.
“Just worry about exams and girls for now, Nick,” he said with kind of a smug grin. “This isn’t anything that hasn’t happened before. The sinkholes are probably just on account of all the rain.”
I didn’t feel like being patronized, deciding to end the conversation when I turned toward the broadcast again just as a horn honked out front. I was on my feet the next second.
“Taking off?” The question came from Richie.
I paused. “Yeah, me and the guys figured we’d hang out one last Friday before our games start and football takes them over.”
He nodded, probably remembering what it was like when he used to play. “You didn’t have practice either?”
“Nope. Coach cancelled because of the storm that rolled through earlier. Second time this week,” I added, keeping to myself that the odd weather wasn’t just my imagination.
“And don’t forget what Dad said,” Ben cut in. “I’m sure it’s safe out there, but still… steer clear of the woods until we get the all-clear.”
Richie shot Ben a look and, as I walked toward the foyer to grab my shoes, I heard him whisper a question: “Didn’t we agreed to leave him out of this.”
I was gone before I could catch Ben’s answers, but it didn’t matter anyway. They could keep their secrets. I was over being treated like the outcast.
Closing the front door behind me, I didn’t bother saying goodbye to anyone. I breathed deep as I walked toward the curb where Lucas parked his pickup. Tonight, I didn’t want to be the kid brother of the Stokes boys. I didn’t want to be Rob and Jackie’s youngest son. I just wanted to be me. I wanted to hang out with my friends, be loud, and just forget everything outside of that.
*****
A sea of white wrappers littered the long table we filled. I lost count of how many burgers I killed at around number five I think. Funny thing is, I still wasn’t full. For some reason, lately, my stomach was like a bottomless pit. The only thing that stopped me from ordering more was the fact that I already spent eight of the ten bucks I left the house with.
Lucas had half a plate of fries left, so I slid it in front of me while he did his best to sweettalk Beth. She was the best player on the girls’ soccer team, heir to her father’s real estate fortune, and she was also nowhere near interested in Lucas. Even after several years of stalking, he still hadn’t figured that out.
But who was I to kill his dream?
Chris belched loud in my ear. “Dude, I’m freakin’ stuffed. Three burgers might have been too much.”
Three? Cute.
“What’re we getting into after this? I plan to stay out as long as possible tonight.” Clearly, my plans to head home early were a thing of the past.
Chris pointed toward the tailgate of the truck. “We scored a few cases of beer from the stash Lucas’ dad keeps in the back of the garage, so we figured we’d head to the reservoir. Most of the girls are coming, too.”
In a matter of seconds, Chris had just run down the complete list of ‘don’ts’ my father gave before I left. There were plenty of excuses I could have given to convince someone to take me home, but in my head, I was already at the reservoir with a cold one in my hand.
“Count me in.”
Chris nodded. “Cool.”
I was positive the staff couldn’t wait for us to go. Most of the patrons had moved to tables as far away from ours as possible—elderly couples, younger ones out on dates, a few families. None of us were really a problem, but we were definitely loud.
Green dollar-bills were now peppered in with the trash we left behind on the table—our tip for any trouble we caused. A peace offering of sorts for the waitress who put up with us for the past hour.
Bodies flooded through the restaurant entrance and each car lining the back row of the parking lot filled, some to nearly twice their capacity. We drove until city streets gave way to dark, winding roads with the woods at either side. My father’s words echoed inside my head, but I ignored them. Normally, I was careful not to defy either of my parents, but I just wasn’t in the mood for coloring inside the lines tonight.
The uphill climb to the crest of Seaton Falls Road ended as, one after the other, our convoy turned onto a dirt path. It was rocky and uneven, but it would take us almost right to the reservoir. We always parked at the peak of the hill overlooking the water, close enough that, if someone came looking for us, we’d have time to clear away the evidence of whatever we got into out here. It would be easy to get to our cars before anyone could make out faces or license plates.
We had our fair share of practice.
Lucas, Chris, and I each carried two cases of beer from the truck as car doors slammed shut behind us. There were signs mounted everywhere, all warning of the risk we’d take if we ventured into the reservoir. We all grew up listening to the same cautionary tales our teachers and parents told—about the deceivingly low temp of the water, the hidden currents—but the only part we heeded was to stay far away from the buoys. Part of me always thought my generation flocked here because we were forbidden to as kids. I guess it had an adverse effect.
A line of headlights swept across the surface of the water; they’d keep it lit while we hung out. A few left their radios on, set to one station so the music surrounded us in stereo. I had my sights set on the picnic table at the hill’s base. Someone had dragged it out here years ago. From the looks of the thing, it’d been decades. Off to my right, loud screams echoed against the trees and I turned toward them. Streaks of blonde and brown hair whipped past as a small group of girls raced downhill toward the water. They jumped in fully-clothed, ignoring the warning signs and the chill in the air. And judging by how Lucas’ eyes were glued to them, I was sure Beth had to be in the bunch.
“Keep it up and she’s gonna slap you in the face with the world’s most well-deserved restraining order.” Chris laughed; a loud one that made his dark skin crease around his eyes. I had no idea why he even bothered trying to talk sense into Lucas, but I kept my thoughts to myself.
“She’d never do that.” Lucas pushed aside strands of his red, shoulder-length hair with his free hand before adding, “Because one day soon, the beauty we all know as Beth Chadwick is gonna wake up and realize… ‘you know what? I think I’ll give that cool guy who’s been in love with me since seventh grade a shot’.”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah… we know,” Chris mumbled.
A herd of our teammates rushed the table, grabbing cans left and right. I hurried to snag a few before they disappeared and then the three of us moved closer to the water’s edge. It was a nice night—clear, just a little cool. Still, it beat being stuck in the house.
Anything beat being stuck in the house.
I thought again about the conversation I heard between Dad and Ben, about the guy in the woods. Our town was small enough that everyone at least knew of each other if they weren’t well-acquainte
d. Most of the families here had been residents for generations. My parents used to hang out with Lucas’ and Chris’s back in the day, and my grandfather and Coach’s father were actually business partners once upon a time. So, when I thought of it like that, I understood why it unnerved my dad a bit to hear about the run-in with a stranger. One who, according to Ben, chased him down. I guess that part was kind of weird, but maybe the guy was just protecting his property if he owned some out here.
I did a sweep of the tree line, but didn’t see anything strange. The only thing that caught my eye was the steamy windshield of a blue truck parked beside Lucas’. It belonged to our quarterback, Maddox, and I would’ve bet money he had one of the cheerleaders inside with him. They, and all the other girls at Seaton Prep, were his weakness.
“Hold this.”
I glanced left, distracted by Lucas’ voice when he handed his can to Chris. Right after, he grabbed the hem of his gray hoodie and pulled it over his head. Then, his t-shirt. Next, he grabbed the sole of his shoe, struggling to remove it as he hopped on the opposite foot.
“Please explain what you’re doing?” Chris’s disturbed expression didn’t match the calmness of his voice.
“Preferably, you know, before your jeans come off,” I added.
Lucas had a look of determination set in his eyes and I knew nothing good would come of it. Like the time toward the end of freshman year when he tried to skateboard from the freeway on-ramp at Henley to the exit ramp at Chenault.
Yeah… epic fail. One I’m sure he, nor the officer who rescued him, would ever forget.
A rush of air puffed from Lucas’ lungs as he breathed out through his nose, staring at the girls floundering in the water. Or, more accurately, staring at Beth.
“Fellas… get ready to witness my very first ‘Say Anything’ moment.”
Chris and I looked at each other, lost.
Lucas rolled his eyes. “Eighties movie? John Cusack?” He paused, hoping we’d figure it out. “Does any of this ring a bell?”
When neither Chris nor I responded, Lucas sighed heavily again and explained. “There was this iconic scene where Lloyd, Cusack’s character, stands outside Diane’s window, boom-box in hand and just… lets it all hang out.”
“I thought we already discussed you keeping your pants on,” I cut in.
“Not… letting everything hang out. I’m talking about his feelings,” he clarified. “The guy freakin’ ripped his heart out his chest and stuck that baby right on his sleeve. All in the name of love.”
“So, explain to us how you getting naked in front of everyone ties in.” Chris took the words right out of my mouth.
“I’m gonna swim across the reservoir, show Beth what I’m made of; show her I’m willing to make a fool of myself just like young Cusack was.”
I covered my mouth, coughing to muffle the laugh.
“Just… make sure you heed Nick’s advice and keep the pants on,” Chris chimed in. “That water’s cold and there’s only so much either of us can say to defend you against shrinkage, man.”
The laugh I’d been trying to hold in slipped out.
“I wouldn’t expect you two to understand anything when it comes to love, relationships. You’re both practically dead inside.” Lucas was now down to his socks and jeans, breathing into his hands to warm them up a bit.
“Dude… that’s mildly offensive,” I chuckled as he handed me his wallet and phone.
“Speak for yourself,” Chris countered. “Love’s for suckers with boom-boxes and, in about twenty seconds, shrunken nut sacs.”
“Nice… real nice.” Lucas stared out at the water, unfazed by Chris and me giving him a hard time. “Just promise me one thing: if I don’t make it. Tell my mother I love her,” were his final words.
“Nah, I’mma tell her you’re stupid,” Chris countered, standing beside me as our friend, the third leg of our trio, the one we once considered to be the ‘smart one’, raced toward the water screaming, “Thuggggg liiiiiiife!” at the top of his lungs.
“Kid’s out of his mind.”
I couldn’t have agreed with Chris more.
We watched and winced when Lucas hit the water, imagining how cold it was. He wasn’t the strongest swimmer in the world, so I guess, in a way, it made his effort that much more meaningful.
But it could only be meaningful if Beth was paying attention, and she wasn’t.
A pale streak sliced through the water as Lucas fought his way to the other side. He was about a quarter of the way there now and, still, Beth only focused on her friends.
“He’s insane, but we gotta help him out,” Chris said under his breath just before cupping his hands around his mouth and yelling, “Yeah, Luke! You’re killing it!”
It worked. Beth’s eyes found Chris where he stood applauding as loud as he could, and then she followed his gaze to Lucas, where his head bobbed in the dark water. It looked like ink beneath the headlight beams of seven vehicles all aimed that way.
I focused on Lucas again, on how he looked like he’d found his second wind now that Beth noticed him. But a shimmer hit the water, a golden glint from the lights behind us that suddenly dipped lower than the rest, glowing brighter as the shadows of those standing near the water’s edge stretched into strange, oblong silhouettes on the surface.
Everyone else seemed to ignore it, or maybe they just didn’t notice, but I did.
I turned and, after that, time moved in slow motion—slow, painful seconds that ticked past while tragedy unfolded right before my eyes. The picnic table, where I stood only a few minutes ago, broke apart with a sound like thunder cracking through the air. The wood splintered, sending hundreds of shards flying in all directions as Maddox’s truck barreled toward the base of the hill. Screams rang out now as everyone else took notice. Bodies charged out of the way, running, tripping and falling over their own feet, over each other.
All except one—a girl.
She sat still, unmoving, unaware of the chaos that went on all around while she casually chewed the end of a Twizzler, bobbing her head to whatever song flowed through her earbuds. My eyes darted toward Maddox’s truck again, through the windshield where I watched two frantic figures struggling to climb back into the front seat.
He’d never get behind the wheel in time—would never regain control before…
“Move! Look out!” My voice boomed through the darkness and I waved my hands wildly, trying my hardest to get the girl’s attention, to get her out of the way while she still had time to run.
It seemed useless, but I had to try.
Had to.
I rushed toward the truck, unsure of what I could possibly do to help, but it was instinct. I couldn’t just stand by and watch, doing nothing.
As I ran, chilled wind brushed over my face, through my hair, contrasting the heat that puffed from my nose and mouth. My lungs burned and ached from straining them. I’d never moved this fast, so fast soft earth shifted beneath my feet.
All I could think was, ‘You have to do something’.
With only a few feet between me and the hunk of deadly steel careening toward the reservoir, toward the helpless girl beside it, I stopped rationalizing and just… did.
A deafening, metallic groan rolled through the air. Blinded by the headlights, I could see nothing, but felt… everything—the heat of the engine as it hissed and breathed across my face, the bumper of Maddox’s truck as it twisted and bowed around my shoulder when I pressed my weight into the grill.
My body locked. Each joint, each muscle, bracing itself to withstand the sheer mass it now supported. The soles of my sneakers tore through the dirt, uprooting rock and grass beneath them before finally coming to a complete stop, mere inches from the stranger I tried to protect.
The engine sputtered and died. I didn’t move, didn’t open my eyes, just stood there trying to breathe, wondering if I was dead now. Wondering why I thought I’d survive that.
…Wondering how I did survive it.
&n
bsp; Right now, my friends should have been peeling me off Maddox’s tires, picking up whatever fragments of my body remained; fragments to give my parents so they’d have something to bury, but… somehow, I was still in one piece.
There had to have been about fifty people standing around me, and yet, the only living thing to be heard for miles was the occasional frog or cricket.
No one spoke, no one even asked if I was okay because, if I had to guess, they were just as shocked as I was. Maybe even a little horrified because, if I’m being honest, I was definitely feeling that, too.
The frame of the truck creaked when I slowly pulled away, letting the front tires settle to the ground again. My eyes opened slowly, only to make certain I hadn’t died and transitioned to the afterlife without realizing it.
I stepped back, staring at a me-shaped dent in the mangled hood, and the extent of the damage left me even more confused.
Hesitant footsteps approached from behind and there was a distant stirring in the water, too. I didn’t turn, but knew who the light touch on my shoulder came from.
“You okay, man? You hurt?” Chris forced out, unable to hide his panicked tone when he turned me to face him. There was a look of disbelief set in his eyes; a look I’m sure I had, too.
Another hand settled on the sleeve of my hoodie, leaving a dark-gray handprint when water from the reservoir ran off Lucas’ fingers. He was out of breath from swimming to shore so fast, but he barely seemed to notice as he stared with wild eyes.
“Help me get him to the truck,” he said, speaking to Chris. “We have to get him to the hospital.”
I lifted my eyes to the crowd around me as my friends carted me toward Lucas’ rusted Jeep Cherokee. In a sudden sweeping awareness, I noticed all the white lights aimed my way.
Phones recording everything—things I couldn’t explain.